Chromatic aerial top



May 19, 1953 F. R. HIGLEY CHROMATIC AERIAL TOP Filed April 23, 1949 INVENTOR, W A $4 Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,638,704 CHROMATIC AERIAL TOP Frank R. Higley, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application April 23, 1949, Serial No. 89,187

is Claims. (Cl. id-49) This invention relates to chromatic devices for amusement or instruction purposes employing varicolored discs mounted eccentrically of a common axis about which they are rotated, for shifting adjustment on their individual axis responsive to inertia.

The invention is particularly adapted for employment of a string or cord for operating support of the device, generally as disclosed in the patent to Van Altena No. 208,351, issued September 24, 1878, and employment of a pair of annular discs as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 14,250, filed March 11, 1948, on which this invention constitutes improvements.

As further objects, the invention embraces provision of extremely simple and inexpensive mounting means for the discs, including a single piece of wire, disposed partially at the face of the device; together with the provision of means for indexing the discs in chromatic symmetry.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the device,

Fig. 2 is a view generally as in the plane of 2-2, Fig. 1, showing details of the disc mounting means and of the manner of stringing such mounting means for operation of the device, and

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing a modification.

With reference now to the drawing, I and 2 are a pair of similar annular discs each having its near or front face coloredin 120 sectors in the three primary colors, as indicated by the letters R, Y, and B for red, yellow, and blue. The discs are of such proportions that when they are disposed in partially overlapping relation as indicated in Fig. l, with a portion of the outer periphery of each disc adjacent to a portion of the inner periphery of the other, there willbe a relatively slight central opening defined between the crossing or overlapping portions of their inner peripheries, as at 3.

Preferably, the discs are slightly dished in opposite directions as indicated by shading in the drawing so that bearing between the discs will be limited to points at their inner and outer 2 such mounting means includes a single wire having portions lextending across the rear face of the device, between the two pairs of crossing or intersecting interadjacent portions of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end hook portions 5 there confining the discs, and a central portion =5 disposed in the opening 3 and preferably in the form of a loop disposed generally in the plane which includes the plane of the end portions 5.

The hook portions 5 serve to confine the discs in face to face relation while maintaining the separated parallel relation of their axes, yet the fit between the parts at the hook portions is sufliciently loose to permit sliding at their locations of bearing.

As shown in Fig. 1, the color indexing relation between the discs in 130 out of phase so that the discs are in chromatic symmetry about the common axis. To maintain such relation while permitting rotation of the discs on their own axes, I provide teeth 8 at their inner peripheries, and a pinion i rotatably mounted on the loop 5, for cooperation with the disc teeth. The pinion 8 is flanged adjacent the wire portions t for engagement with the discs to maintain the pinion on the loop 6, and preferably the pinion is similarly flanged at its opposite end.

sup orting and driving means for the: device is applied to its loop portion 6, generally as illustrated and described in the Van Altena patent.

As indicated ihFig. 2, the driving means here shown is of cord type, having a pair of stretches 9 in crossing relation Within the 10013 it, both stretches extending through the opening of the pinion I. Preferably the ends of the opening are rounded as indicated, Fig. 2, to prevent abrasion of the cord.

Operation of the device includes essentially application of rotative forces to the loop 6 with acceleration and deceleration thereof, as by reversal, whereby the inertia of the discs cause them relative rotational adjustment on their axes, with their indexing maintained by the pinion 1, the rotative forces applied to the loop 6 being transmitted to the discs at their outer peripheries by the hooks 5 confining said disks.

I In assembly, the terminating ends of the hooks 5 may be formed after application of the pinion l to the loop s with the discs engaging the pinion. Or, the hooks 5 may be preformed and the wire sprung at the loop 6 sufiiciently to engage the hooks with the discs.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified form of the Wire part of the mounting means. Here, the radial arms i and loop 6 are provided as before, and end portions 5a and 5b are also provided. How ever, in this form a diametrical member it in tegral with one of the end portions as at 5b is provided, to extend entirely across the front or near face of the disc assembly. The other end portion 5a terminates in a catch hook engageable with its adjacent end of the member ill for releasable securement thereof. The arrangement will be recognized as essentially that of the wellknown safety pin.

The pinion I may be here employed as previously described, and operation will be as before. However, with the wire part of Fig. 3 the pinion need not be flanged, unless for appearance, since it will be maintained on the loop 6, by the diametrical arm In.

As another modification, not illustrated, and employable where indexing is dispensed with for the sake of cheapness, the pinion l and cooperative disc teeth may be omitted; the loop 6 being suitably proportioned relative to the inner peripheries of the discs that the latter themselves directly and slidably engage the parallel side portions of the loop.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining a central opening: means mounting said discs so disposed, for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including a portion extending across a face of said device, from one to the other of the two locations of intersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs at said locations, against relative displacement from their planes, and with a central portion disposed in said opening.

2. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining an elongated central opening: means mounting said discs so disposed, for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including a portion extending across a face of said device, from one to the other of the two locations of intersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs at said locations, against relative displacement from their planes, and with a central portion disposed in said opening in the plane of said end portions.

3. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining a central opening: means mounting said discs so disposed, for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including a portion extending across a face of said device, from one to the other of the two locations of intersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs at said locations, against relative displacement from their planes, and with a central portion disposed in said opening and itself having a transverse opening, and cord means ar ranged with stretches extending through and crossing in said transverse opening.

4. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining a central opening: means mounting said discs so disposed, for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including a portion extending across a face of said device, from one to the other of the two locations of intersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs at said locations, against relative displacement from their planes, and with a central portion disposed in said opening, and means mounted on said central portion to be rotatable by engagement between said discs at their inner peripheries.

5. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining a central opening: means mounting said discs so disposed, for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including a portion extending across a face of said device, from one to the other of the two locations of intersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs at said locations, against relative displacement from their planes, and with a central portion disposed in said opening and itself having a transverse opening, cord means arranged with stretches extending through and crossing in said transverse opening, and means mounted on said central portion to be rotatable by engagement between said discs at their inner peripheries.

6. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping r lation with portions of their inner peripheries defining a central opening: means mounting said discs so disposed, for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including wire means having a portion extending across a face of said device, from one to the other of the two locations of intersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs at said locations, against relative displacement from their planes, and with a central portion disposed in said opening.

'7. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining an elongated central opening: means mounting said discs so disposed, for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including wire means having a portion extending across a face of said device, from one to the other of the two locations of intersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs at said locations, against relative displacement from their planes, and with a central loop portion disposed in said opening lengthwise thereof.

8. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining a central opening: means mounting said discs so disposed, for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including Wire means having a portion extending across a face of said device, from one to the other of the two locations of intersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs at said locations, against relative displacement from their planes, and with a central portion disposed in said opening in the plane of said end portions.

9. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs dis-' posed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining a central opening: means mounting said discs so disposed, for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including Wire means having a portion extending across a face of said device, from one to the other of the two locations of intersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs at said locations, against relative displacement from their planes, and with a central loop portion disposed in said opening in the plane of said end portions.

10. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining an elongated central opening: means mounting said discs so disposed, for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including wire means having a portion extending across a face of said device, from one to the other of the two locations of intersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs at said cations, against relative displacement from their planes, and with a central loop portion disposed in said opening lengthwise thereof, and cord means arranged with stretches extending through and crossing in the opening of said loop.

11. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining an elongated central opening: means mounting said discs so disposed, for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including wire means having a portion extending across a face of said device, from one to the other of the two locations of intersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs at said 1ocations, against relative displacement from their planes, and with a central loop portion disposed in said opening lengthwise thereof, and means mounted on said loop portion to be rotatable by engagement between said discs at their inner peripheries.

12. In a device of the class described and in cluding a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining an elongated central opening: means mounting said discs so .disposed, for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including wire means having a portion extending across a face of said device, from one to the other of the two locations of in tersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs at said 10- cations, against relative displacement from their planes, and with a central loop portion disposed in said opening lengthwise thereof, cord means arranged with stretches extending through and crossing in the opening of said loop, and means mounted on said loop portion to be rotatable by engagement between said discs at their inner peripheries.

13. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining a central opening, said inner peripheries being toothed: means mounting said discs so disposed for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including a portion extending across a face of said device from one to the other of the two locations of intersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs at said locations, against relative displacement from their planes, and with a central portion disposed in said opening, and toothed pinion means mounted on said central portion to be rotatable by engagement between said discs at their inner peripheries, and thereby positively maintain indexed relation between said discs while permitting their otherwise free rotation about their said axes.

14. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions Of their inner peripheries defining an elongated central opening: means mounting said discs so disposed for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including wire means having a portion extending across one face only of said device from one to the other of the two locations of intersection of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions of hook form confining said discs at said locations, against relative displacement from their relative planes, and a central portion of loop form disposed in said opening lengthwise thereof.

15. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining a central opening: means mounting said discs so disposed for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including wire means disposed about said device with portions extending across each of its faces between the intersecting portions of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs, and with a central portion disposed in said opening,

16. In a device of the class described and including a pair of annular chromatic discs disposed in partially overlapping relation with portions of their inner peripheries defining a central opening; means mounting said discs so disposed for rotation about their axes and about an axis central of said opening, said mounting means including wire means disposed about said device with portions extending across each of its faces between the intersecting portions of the outer peripheries of the discs, with end portions confining said discs, and a central portion disposed in said opening, said wire means comprising a single length of wire the ends of which are arranged to have detachable interconnection adjacent one of said confining end portions.

FRANK R. HIGLEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 495,079 Williams Apr. 11, 1893 880,322 Newell Feb. 25, 1908 1,192,465 Schneider July 25, 1916. 1,420,982 Ewart et al. June 27, 1922 1,692,147 Arnold Nov. 20, 1928 2,181,184 Higley Nov. 28, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 94 Great Britain Jan. 3, 1898 

